Folding flower



(No Model'f) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P; G. JUNBS. FOLDING FLOWER STAND.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2.

F. G. JONES. FOLDING FLOWER STAND.

110.547,21@l Patented 001. 1,1895.

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FREDERICK G. JONES, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING FLOWER-STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,216, dated October 1, 1895.

Application filed September 8, 1894. Serial No. 522,446. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK Gr. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Flower- Stands; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a folding frame adapted to carry trays, shelves, or other supports, which mayserve to contain and exhibit boots and shoes, silverware, owerpots, or other articles. In the present instance this invention pertains to a folding frame constructed particularly to serve as a flowerstand, the several shelves being arranged in step fashion.

The present improvements are embodied in the peculiar manner of mounting the several tiers of shelves, whereby in the act of folding together of the main frame these several shelves, which are positively connected with and operated by the frame, shall be swung in against the frame in order to have the entire assemblage of parts form a small compact mass. Conversely in the act of opening the shelves are brought into position for use. In this way they may be packed away and occupy but little space when not in use.

The'drawings represent in Figure l a front elevation of a folding flower-stand in an extended or unfolded position and embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a stand in which the shelves arc placed only upon one side. Fig. 3 represents the liowerstand in a folded position. Fig. t is a side View of a modified form in which shelves are arranged on both sides.

In the drawings herewith presented, 2 2' represent similar frames or trusses, comprising an inclined post 3 and an upright 4, pivotally united at the top to create a triangle in connection with a locking-rod 5, which forms the base of said triangle and is attached at or near the lower ends of said parts. This rod is pivotally united to one and separably attached to the other, such forni giving great strength with a small amount of material. With the construction illustrated said rod is separably united with the upright and when disengaged therefrom enables the post and the upright to be swung toward each other and to close after the manner of scissorsblades. Tie-rods 6 6 62 at suitable distances apart interconnect two or more of said trusses. Under the present construction only two trusses are shown, and the length of the tie-rods regulates thelength of the stand. To enable these trusses to uphold and support shelves, trays, or other devices for the display of Iiower-pots or goods of various descriptions, a series of bars or arms 7 7 are pivotally attacned at proper intervals along the oblique posts 3. Said arms are arranged to swing in parallelism with the posts and lie snugly up against them when the stand is in a folded position. The pivots 8 8 are so located in the arms as to provide a long forwardly-proj ectin g part, on which is to be placed the shelf, tray, or other support for the goods or objects to be displayed. These shelves are shown at 9 9 E)2 and are to be varied in form and shape as circumstances require. In the present example the stand is for flower-pots. Accordingly said shelves are in the form of open wirework trays with a high rim to prevent fall of the pots should they by chance happen to be upset. The rearwardly-extending portions of these arms are pivotally united to connectingrods l0 l0. These latter are situated in the same plane with the posts 3 3', and likewise in parallelism therewith. Hence when the stand is folded they are positioned snugly against said posts, as will be seen in Fig. 3. The duty of these rods lO 10 is to produce simultaneous, similar, and equal movement of the arms 7, and as a result swing the shelves inwardly or outwardly, all depending upon the fact as to whether the stand is being folded or unfolded. In order to create positive motion of the shelves, which motion shall be coincident with the folding or unfolding of the trusses, an actuating-link 12 joins the upright 4 and extends to the inner end of the ICO lowermost arm 7. Thus it is evident that when the locking-rod is disengaged from the upright 4 and the latter advanced toward the upright 3 the inner ends (see Figs. 2 and 3) are advanced upwardly, While the front portions are swung downwardly and rearwardly, causing them to approach the post 3. In this way the entire structure is brought into a small compact form occupying but little space, and when not in use the liability of injury is greatly diminished.

In Fig. 4 the same construction prevails as in the previous igures; but as it frequently happens that it is desirable t0 have trays both front and rear I have shown a stand arranged under this method. However, the trusses are preferably in the form of equilateral triangles, the post and the upright having equal inclination. Furthermore, the opposite arms 7 are pivotally united at 14 at their inner eX- tremities; but in other respects the construction is identical with a stand equipped with shelves on one side only.

The combination with two or more trusses composed of two posts pivoted together at the top, and a detachable rod to hold them eX- tended, ot' one or more arms pivotally secured to one post, a shelf or tray at one end of said arms on the front side of said post, a rod interconnecting the opposite ends of the arms and parallel with and on the rear side of said post, and an operating link which unites the opposite post with said arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK G. JONES. Witnesses:

I-I. E. LODGE, MELVILLE D. JONES. 

